Greg Louganis

Aquatics’ most influential people of the past 25 years.

Twenty-five years ago at the Seoul Olympics, diver Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board, sustained a concussion ... and went on to win the gold. It’s that kind of fierce competitive spirit that fueled his swimming career, producing an impressive total of 17 gold medals — Olympics (four); World Championships (five); Pan American Games (six); and Summer Universiade (two) — and one silver Olympic medal.

He was the only male and the second diver in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Olympics. He also received the James E. Sullivan Award in 1984 as the most outstanding U.S. amateur athlete.

Yet despite all the accolades, Louganis endured negative press over his revelation in the 1990s that he was gay and living with HIV. Since 2010, the Californian has been an athlete mentor for USA Diving. A documentary about his life, “Back on Board,” is set for a 2013 release.